September 1/12 22:56 pm - Giro della Toscana: Stage 2 and 3

Posted by Editoress on 09/1/12

Hall advances into GC contention with top finish at Giro

Stage 2 report by TIBCO-To The Top

Lauren Hall took the reigns in Stage 2 of the Giro della Toscana today after spending 130 kilometers in a breakaway and finishing 2nd on the day. With today’s strong performance, Hall moves into contention for the overall, 52 seconds behind the race leader.

Just 7 kilometers into the race, Hall escaped the main field and secured her position in a breakaway that staved off the peloton for the remainder of the 137.6-kilometer race. At one point, the breakaway had a gap of over 6 minutes on the field.

As the riders approached the town of Volterra, the field split as they headed up the ascent of two Category 1 climbs. In the front group, Jasinska Malgorzata took off to secure the win. Behind her, Hall followed in a group of five. In the final kilometer of the summit finish stage, Hall attacked her breakaway companions to secure 2nd place.

Two minutes back, a group of seven including Megan Guarnier headed to the finish. Guarnier out-sprinted her rivals and took some time from the other GC riders. Guarnier is currently in 10th place for the Giro overall.

“The Team is doing an incredible job here at the Giro,” said Team TIBCO European directeur sportif Angela van Smoorenburg. “Several of our riders are capable of winning the overall and I am pleased with how confident the Team is racing.”

Guarnier 2nd, Hall 8th in Stage 3 of Giro della Toscana

Stage 3 report by TIBCO-To The Top

The battle for the leader’s jersey continues as Team TIBCO gains momentum in the final stages of the Giro della Toscana. In today’s hilly Stage 3, Megan Guarnier ramped up her efforts taking 2nd on the day, moving into 5th place overall. Lauren Hall closed in on the current GC leader with an 8th place finish today.

Hall remains in 2nd place for the overall, now just 49 seconds back from the best time. Amanda Miller has also been putting up consistent results and is currently in 9th place for the general classification.

“Team TIBCO is racing at their best,” said the Team’s European directeur sportif Angela van Smoorenburg. “The riders are proving they are world-class athletes capable of competing at the highest level of the sport.”

Tomorrow marks the final stage of the Giro, featuring a mostly flat 98.8-kilometer course from Lucca to Firenze. The route includes some early rollers and a 6.3-kilometer Category 3 climb 51 kilometers into the race. Another Category 3 climb in the closing kilometers could split the field and shake things up for the finish.

For Hall, a breakaway will give the GC rider the best odds of making up 49 seconds, and thus clinching the overall, in the final day of the Giro.